Fluid-elevator.



'PATENTED Nov. 8,1904.

A. BROWN. FLUID ELEVATOR.'

APPLIoA'rIoN FILED DBO. 16,1903.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

K om

PATBNTED Noms, 190,4.

A, BRQWN. FLUID ELEVATOR. AIPLOATION FLED DEO. 16, 1903.

' N0 MODEL.

10.774.551 PATENTED Nov.'a,19o4.

' A. BROWN.

FLUID BLEVATOR.

APPLIoATroN FILED Dnc. 1a, 1903. No MODEL. v 4 sHnmsLsHnM s.

PATENTED NOV. 8. 1904.

No. 774,557. A

A. BROWN. FLUID ELEVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 16, 1903.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

N0 MODEL.

Nrrnp SierrasVA Patented November s, 1904.

ANDREIV BROIN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

FLUID-ELEVATOFl SIJECIIEICJA'IIONy forming part of Letters Patent No.Y 774,557, dated NOVembel 8, 1904.

Application filed December 16, 1903. Serial No. 185,374. (No model.)

To @ZZ when/z, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ANDREW BROWN, a citi- Zen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in FluidfEleVat-ors, of which the following' is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in apparatus for elevating iiuids; and it consists more particularly in an improved form of vertically-placed conveyer designed to receive a container for liquids and after the conveyer has been operated so as to transport the same to a desired point to be so manipulated as to cause said container to be filled with fluid and then be returned to its startingpoint.

The Objects of the invention are to provide an elevating' apparatus 'of the class noted which, while being' efficient in action, shall be easily and inexpensively constructed. It is further desired that the device shall be of such anature as will not be likely to become inoperative through long continued usage.

Another object of the invention is to provide relatively simple mechanism for conveying a glass, for example, from one room to another beneath it which can be operated to open the valve of a fluid-supply pipe after said glass has been properly placed with regard to the same, it being' also desired to providea device for operating an electric-light switch or equivalent device which may be so arranged as to light a lamp before the valve is turned on and to extinguish said lamp after the valve has been turned off.

These objects I attain as hereinafter set forth, reference being' had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a sectional elevation showing the preferred arrangement of the parts of my improved luid-elevator. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation, partly in section, of a portion of the device shown in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device shown in Fig. 2. Fig. et is a plan view of a portion of my improved fluid-elevator, showing it as constructed to deliver fluid to a container from any one of a number of sources. Fig. 5 is an elevation of my improved elevator, showing it as used in connection with a special form of the valveoperating mechanism and of the device for operating the lamp-switch. Fig. 6 is an elevation of a special form of a portion of my nvention. Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional elevation of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is an enlarged plan view taken on the linel 8 8, Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a possible construction for. the valve and spigot operating mechanism.; and Fig. l0 is a plan view of the lower end of the tubular carrier-guide, showing the mirror and the elec* tric lamp as supported thereby.

In the above drawings I have illustrated my invention as designed to convey a glass from one level to a lower one, after which it may be operated so as to light a lamp and open a lvalve in afluid-supply pipe. \Vhen said glass is filled, the device is manipulated so as to close the valve and extinguish the lamp, after which the glass is raised to its original level and removed.

My improved structure is shown as passing' through aldoor Aand is supported partly from this and partly from a framework B, which may be made in any convenient manner, in the present'instance consisting of two uprights b and a cross-piece The frame of the conveyer proper consists, preferably, of a tube C, supported in such forms of the invention as are shown in Figs. 4 to 9, inclusive, so as to be free to turn on a vertical axis, and having in such case a stepbearing c on the cross-piece there being a handle c' fixed to its upper end, whereby it can be turned when desired. There is a slot extending longitudinally of said tube for practically its entire length, and in said slot is mounted a carriage or carrier D, this having a portion dextending'vvithin the tube and a portion CZ', in the form of a tray or receptacle, extending outside of the tube for the reception of va glass. A rope or chain e is connected at one end to the carrier D, from whence it passes over a pulley e', mounted in an opening at the upper endy of the tube C,

then extends downwardly to a pulley from which is hung a tension-Weight e, these latter parts being preferably suspended below the cross-piece b'. If desired, said rope may includel a counterweight D', and there is pref- IOO erably a second pulley c2 adjacent to the pulley j for the purpose of' guidingl the rope so i side member 7;, of the frame B, and in that 1 f'orm ot' my invention shown in Figs. l to 3 is provided with a valve 62, to which is attached avertically-swinging end section f. A downwardly-extending link Z2* connects said end section with a lever Z2, which in the present instance is t'ulcrumed to one of the side members L and projects into the path of the glasscarrier D. The end section of the supply-pipe is normally retained in an elevated position, as indicatedin dotted lines in Fig. 2, by means of a counterweight b, this being connected to the section b3 by means of a wire or cord L7 passing over a pulley supported by a side member b of the `frame.

An incandescent lamp G is fixed to one of the supporting members at one side of the tube C and is provided with a reflector g, which not only throws its light onto the carrier and its glass when these are in a position at the bottom end oi' the tube C, but also cuts off the direct rays of' light from an observer at the upper end of' said tube. For turning on and ofi' this lamp I provide any desired form of switch mechanism, operated either directly by movement of the guiding-tube Cor by movement of the end section 3 ot' the supply-pipe. In Figs. l to 3 the said mechanism consists of a bar t, having a forked end L, placed to be engaged by the tube-section b3, when this latter is in its elevated position. The opposite end of the bar /t is connected to the blade It? of' the switch H, which is provided with means-asdor example, the springpressed plunger /t3-tending to keep it in a closed position. Said switch is connected in circuit with the lamp Gr in the well-known manner.

Amirror J is supported on the frame B to one side of the bottom of the tube C and below the lamp G, and by means of' said mirror it is possible to obtain a side View ot' the glass from the upper floor through a suitable opening' at therein.

In operating my improved fluid-elevator a glass is placed on the carrier which, it will be understood, is at the upper end of the tube C, and the handle or crank attached to the Apulley c' is turned, so as to lower said carrier. This passes downwardly through the opening in the floor, being guided and maintained in an upright position by means of the inwardlyextended portion or head CZ, which is guided by the slot in the tube C. It will be understood that the counterweight normally retains the end section 3 of the fluid-sul'iply pipe in its elevated position and that this section while so held presses against the bar /L and keeps the switch H in an open condition in spite ol thc act1on of the plunger if. "When, therefore, the carrier D approaches the lower l end of' the tube C, it engages the projecting end ot' the lever b5 and moves this, with the attached tube-section Zi, downwardly, so that said section extends over the glass. Such movement of the tube-section opens the valve b2, with the result that liuid is delivered to the glass. It will be noted that almost immediately after the tube-section 3 has begun its downward movement the switch H is closed by the action ot its spring-pressed plunger /1/3 and the lamp G is lighted, so as to enable an observer to see that fluid is properly delivered to the glass, as well as to see when said glass is lilled. Then the operator notes that the glass is nearly lilled and begins to raise the carrier, even though the counterweight If elevates the movable pipe-section b3, the switch H is not opened so as to extinguish the lamp until the said pipe-section has reached such a position that the flow of fluid therefrom is completely stopped.

li' it be desired to deliver fluid to the glass from any one of a number of dilerent sources, the various parts of' the apparatus may be arranged as shown in Fig. 4, in which F F2 F3 are pipes connected to different barrels and each provided with valve-operating mechanism similar to that shown in the other figures. ln order that the carrier with its glass may be moved so as to be under the movable end section of any of the various supply-pipes, I support the tube C so that it may be turned by means ofl its handle c on a vertical axis, there being a step-bearing for the lower end of' said tube, as shown in Figs. Q to 7.

lf desired, thc valve mechanism for the fluidsupply pipe may be of the form shown in Fig. 5, in which the end section 7) of' the said pipe is made to swing' horizontally to operate a valve and to bring it into position over the glass. For the purpose of moving said section the tube C is provided with a projecting lug o", which is connected to the swinging pipe-section by means of a link c5.

VIn order to permit movement ot' the vertical tube without corresponding movement of the carrier and its glass, l construct the lower end of' said tube, as shown in Figs. 6 to 8, with an inner section C', which is slotted to correspond to the longitudinal slot in the main tube. Said main tube has a portion of its lower end removed so as to permit its revolution on a vertical axis through an arc of ninety degrees, it being understood that the tubular section U, which does not turn, properly supports the glass-carrier without permitting motion of the same. The above-mentioned arc of' motion is usually sufcient to operate the valve and switch mechanism hereinafter described.

The lamp-switch may be positively operated by the movement of the tube C2 by means of the device shown in Fig. 5, in which IOO IIO

H `will the switch H/ has pinned to its blade a reciprocable bar/4. This bar is carried in openings through the framework Band is provided with projecting lugs lf. which are engaged by a bar iiXed to the tube C2. this form of my invention when the operator linds that the carrier has reached the lower liinit of its motion at the bottom of the tube C2 he turns said tube by means of the handle c, so as to swing the arms c7 and c4 through arcs of ninety degrees. This resultsy in a longitudinal movement of the rod ./Li, which closes the switch connected thereto and lights the lamp G and also swings the pipesection 7) so that its open end is over the glass. Since such turning opens the valve L2, liquid will flow into the glass until it is stopped by a reverse movement of the tube C2.

If desired, the end section of the pipe F may be made immovable, in which case the guide-slot in the vertical tube is curved, as` illustrated at (J3, Figs. 6 and 7, so as to move the carrier around and under said end section of the pipe as it is being lowered. The flow of liquid from the pipe is then caused by rotation of the tube C3, this being transmitted therefrom to the valve in said pipe by means of a linl; cs, which connects a projecting arm of the said tube C3 with an arm 09, fixed to said valve. Again, as shown in Fig. 9, the valve in the fluid-supply pipe might be operated by motion of the end section thereof, as in Figs. l to 3, and said section may be connected directl y from the tube C through the arms and link cs, as above indicated.

In constructing my device so as to have a number of sources of supply for fluid available I may support both the mirror J and the lamp G from the tube C, as illustrated in Fig. l0, so that these parts, while moving with the said tube, always remain in the same position relatively to the carrier and its glass. Hence it is always possible to ascertain the amount of liquid in the glass while it is being lilled, irrespective of the position of the pipe from which said Huid is drawn.

I claim as my inventionl. In a fluid-elevator, the combination of a carrier, a guide structure for the same, a supply-pipe, means for controlling the flow of iuid therefrom, a lamp, and a switch having means placed to coact with said carrier for controlling the action of said lamp, substantiall y as described.

2. In a Huid-elevator, the combination of a substantially vertical tube having a longitudinal slot, a carrier movable therein, a fluidsupply pipe, means for moving one of the members comprised by the carrier and said pipe so as to bring the latter into a predetermined relation to a container on said carrier, with means for controlling the flow of iuid from said pipe, substantially as described.

3. In a fluid-elevator, the combination of a carrier, a guide therefor, a pulley on said In using guide, a flexible connection extending' over the pulley and connected to the carrier, a iiuidsupply pipe, a valve therein and means operated by the carrier for opening' said valve, substantially as described.

4. In a fluid-elevator, the combination, ot' a carrier, a guide therefor, means for moving said carrier on the guide, means for filling' a container on said carrier, said means including a supply-pipe, with an electric switch, and a lamp controlled thereby, said switch having means whereby it is operated by motion of the said movable supply-pipe, substantially as described. y

5. In afiuid-elevator, the combination of a carrier, means for guiding the same, means for causing motion of the carrier, a movable supply-pipe havinga controlling-valve, means for operating said valve, an electric lamp, a switch therefor, means for moving the supply-pipe and means connecting the supplypipe with the switch, said latter means being placed to cause closing of the switch before the valve-operating means will permit flow of fluid and to cause extinguishing of said lamp only after said valve has been closed, substantially as described.

6. The combination Yof a guide, a carrier movable thereon, means for causing motion of the carrier, aiuid-supply pipe, a valve therein, a piece placedto be engaged by the carrier and means for connecting said piece with the valve, substantially as described.

7. rlhe combination of a guide, a carrier movable thereon, means for causing motion of the carrier, a Huid-supply pipe, a valve therein, said pipe having a movable section, a mova bly-supported arm placed to be engaged by the carrier, means for connecting said arm and the section of the vpipe and means for normally retaining the pipe in a position out of the path of the carrier, substantially as described.

8. The combination of a guide, a carrier movable thereon, means for causing motion of the carrier, a fluid-supply pipe having a movable section and a valve, a weight connected to said movable section and tending to maintain it in an elevated position out of the path of the carrier, and means operated by the carrier for causing the movable section to be IOO brought over a receptacle onthe carrier and for operating the valve, substantially as described.

9. The combination of a switchY having means normally tending to close it, a lamp electrically connected thereto, a fluid-supply pipe having a movable section and a valve, means for normally retaining the said section in a position to hold the switch open, a carrier for a receptacle, a guide for the carrier, means operated by said carrier for causing release of the switch and for moving the said f section of pipe over the carrier and means for operating the valve,substantially as described.

...ila

10. lhc combination of a tubular guide, a carrier movable thereon, a device 'for moving said carrier, the same including a liexible connection attached to the carrier and extending in the tube` with means for maintaining tension on said lexible connection, a supplypipe and means for supplying Huid therefrom to a receptacle on the carrier, substantially as described.

11. The combination oi' a longitudinallyslotted tube, a carrier having a portion movable in said slot, a pulley on the tube, a flexible connection between the pulley and the carrier, a second pulley provided with a weight and engaging the said iiexible connection with a fluid-supply pipe and means for controlling the How of 'liuid therefrom to a receptacle on the carrier, substantially as described.

12. In a Huid-elevator, the combination of a carrier for a container, means for moving the same, a Huid-supply pipe having a valve and mechanism operatively connected to the valve but having a portion placed to be actuated from the carrier at a certain point oi' its path of motion to operate the valve, substantially as described.

13. In a fluid-elevator, the combination of a carrier, means for moving the same, a plu.- rality of Huid-supply pipes, each having a valve, and a device for each pipe placed to coact with the carrier for operating at Will the valve on any one of said pipes, substantially as described.

14. In a fluid-elevator, the combination of a carrier, means for moving' the saine, a plurality of fluid-supply pipes, each having a Valve and a movable arm connected to said valve, with means for causing the carrier to engage any desired one of said arms to operate the valve connected thereto, substantially as described.

15. rEhe combination of a guide movable on its longitudinal axis, a carrier movable on the guide, a plurality of fluid-supply pipes, cach having a valve and an arm connected thereto, with means for movingI said guide so as to cause the carrier to engage any desired one of the arms and thereby operate the valve to which it is connected, substantially as described. y

16. The combination of a slotted tube movable on its longitudinal axis, a carrier movable in the slot of said tube, a plurality of huid-supply pipes, each having' a movable section, a valve, an arm connected to said valve, with means for causing the carrier to engage any one of said arms, substantially as described.

17. The combination of a vertically-movable carrier, a Huid-supply pipe having a section. movable into and out of the path of motion of said carrier, an arm in the path of motion of said carrier and connected to said section, with a valve operated by the movement of said arm, substantially as described.

ln testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of tivo subscribing witnesses.

ANDREvr BROVN Witnesses:

HENRY NOAR, W'ILLIAM E. BRADLEY. 

